World Kindness Day encourages us to show kindness to strangers, co-workers, acquaintances, loved ones, and ourselves. Twenty-eight countries celebrate the holiday which was introduced by a coalition of nations' kindness organizations in 1998.
Kindness is defined as being friendly, generous, and considerate. It is a key component of living a full and beautiful life. Being kind is the foundation for developing healthy connections with others which positively impact our mental and physical health.
Acts of kindness also release oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins. This has a positive impact on your emotional and physical health as well. If you want to feel good, showing kindness is an easy place to start.
Let’s look at how you can incorporate kindness into your life today!
What Is Kindness
Kindness can be quite simple. Incorporating kindness into our lives will not take much time, money, or planning. We just need to be intentional about it. Words of encouragement, a genuine smile, or a compassionate tone can go a long way.
Sharing your kind thoughts is inexpensive and does not take much time. Everyone likes to hear things like, “You handled that situation well. It’s always nice when someone tells you that you have a great smile or that they like your shirt.
It takes no extra time to smile at someone as they walk past you on the street or say “thank you” to a service provider. Even watching your tone of voice when you are in a hurry or upset can show others kindness. These simple things can make someone’s day.
Being Kind to Others
Anita Rani says, “Kindness isn’t big, grand gestures. The small acts of kindness, they’re the important bits.” Chances are the people you feel closest to don’t do grand gestures frequently, but hopefully, they make you feel loved with the little things.
Making a pot of coffee, giving a hug before leaving, sending a quick text, or picking up a small token of love at the store are all ways to show kindness. Anything that shows someone you are thinking about them counts.
According to actor Maureen Lipman, “It’s great to do a good deed a day because you feel better about yourself, but actually the main aspect of kindness, the bit that’s difficult, is continuity. How do you be kind to someone you’re caring for.”
It is easy to take those we care about for granted. Sometimes we treat strangers better than those we care about most. Slow down and consider what you want to communicate to them through your words, tone, and actions.
Are You Forgetting Someone?
Think of all the people you want to be kind to. Are you forgetting someone? Writer Caitlin Moran says, “I think we are very focused on being kind to other people, and that’s awesome… but we just must focus on being kind to ourselves.”
Kindness to yourself is much like kindness to others. It includes making time for yourself, caring for your needs, and talking to yourself nicely. A good rule of thumb is to compare how you treat yourself with how you treat those dearest to you.
Self-care doesn’t have to take long or cost a lot of money. Reframing how you think of or speak to yourself is a great place to start. When you are frustrated, think about what you are telling yourself. Then ask yourself how you would react to a friend in the same situation.
Showing yourself kindness also requires self-care; little things can be the most practical way to care for yourself consistently. If you need ideas, check out Self-Care in Five Minutes.
As Brooke Jones, the Vice President of the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation says, “We have to make kindness the norm, not the exception.” What can you do to show kindness to others and yourself today?
Dr. Jamie